Helmke talks guns, violence alternatives in Fort Wayne visit

Former mayor of Fort Wayne Paul Helmke isn't the president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence any longer, but that doesn't mean how to address the problem that plagues communities is no longer relevant to him.

Helmke, now a Professor of Practice at Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Bloomington, was in town Monday to speak to the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne. He delivered a speech on the topic "Update on Gun Violence in America" at Parkview Field to about 60 listeners, then took questions from the group.

As he has consistently over the years, Helmke insists that he is not in favor of a total ban on guns, but would instead like to engage with the gun lobby on points of emphasis like magazine limits and increased background checks, among others.

Helmke was a three-term mayor in Fort Wayne, serving from 1988 to 2000. He was the president of the Brady Center from 2006 to 2011.